New Construction Materials Protect Architectural Treasures Such as Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty From Extreme Weather
18 Maggio 2005 - 9:39PM
PR Newswire (US)
New Construction Materials Protect Architectural Treasures Such as
Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty From Extreme Weather and
Heat Silicone Sealants Aid Preservation, Usability of Landmarks
MIDLAND, Mich., May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A thing of beauty
may indeed be a joy forever, as long as it is properly protected.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050518/DEW038 )
Architectural preservationists are finding that advances in
construction materials and techniques are not only helping to
reclaim the splendor of historic landmarks, but they are also
ensuring improved functionality for future generations.
"Preservationists know that by saving historic buildings and
landmarks, they are honoring the past, enriching the present, and
protecting the future," said Bob Hansen, global industry executive
director for construction and Dow Corning president of Europe. To
fully safeguard the world's historic, artistic, and architectural
heritage, the first priority of any preservation effort is to
protect the structure from the elements, according to Hansen.
"Construction weatherproofing and glazing sealants may represent a
small portion of the overall preservation costs, but it can save
substantial energy costs and prevent interior damage from water
leakage," Hansen said. "We're developing innovative products and
techniques that bring the past into a functional future."
Preservation architects are increasingly turning to silicon-based
products, due to their superior resistance to sunlight, ozone,
rain, snow or temperature extremes. Under normal conditions,
silicone sealants can provide 20 years or more of leak-free service
in exterior building applications, compared to the lifespan of five
to seven years for some commonly used organic urethane sealants. As
an example, silicone sealants and coatings maintain long term
adhesion to concrete, masonry, stone, and exterior insulation and
finish systems, as well as glass and metal substrates. They are
easy to apply over a wide temperature range, can be applied in hot
or cold temperature extremes, which allows for year round
application outdoors. Silicone sealants provide superior performing
technology due to their chemistry; they will not crack, split, or
tear. They stay flexible and maintain adhesion, even while being
stretched or compressed, which is a basic requirement for any
properly designed joint. Restoring, renovating and adapting
historic buildings and landmarks to current and future needs
present challenges for workers who must maintain the underlying
structure of these buildings. The use of silicone products provides
a long term solution by preventing water, air, and contaminants
from entering the structure. Failure to properly seal structures
can result in premature life, internal damage, and deteriorated
aesthetics. "Whenever we work on a landmark project, we pay close
attention that the materials not only perform well, but they
complement the aesthetics and character of the building," said
Hansen. Examples of landmarks that have benefited from modern
preservation techniques and products include: * Washington National
Cathedral - The sixth-largest cathedral in the world and
second-largest in the United States, Washington National Cathedral
is a solid masonry structure built from high-grade limestone blocks
that average 300 pounds. Because construction took 83 years, parts
of the cathedral were already being renovated even before
construction was completed in 1990. As part of the ongoing
renovation/preservation efforts, deteriorating mortar is replaced
with silicone sealants from Dow Corning. * Mount Rushmore - For
nearly its first 50 years, Mount Rushmore received annual facelifts
from maintenance personnel who filled cracks of varying sizes with
a patching compound of granite dust, white lead, and linseed oil.
But because the cracks returned as soon as the linseed oil dried
out, the National Park Service switched to high performance Dow
Corning silicone sealants in the early 1990s. This was in part due
to their long-lasting performance, watertight bond to granite
joints, as well as its ease of application in temperature extremes.
* Statue of Liberty - After enduring punishing, wind-driven salt
water for 100 years the penny-thin copper-skinned Statue of Liberty
was not only showing its age, but it was leaking. To restore the
landmark and prepare it for future generations, historical
architects selected Dow Corning silicone sealants for its superior
adhesion capabilities to copper, flexibility in extreme weather
conditions, long life, and compatibility with residual coal tar --
the original sealant used when the statue was erected in 1886. *
Guggenheim Museum - Opened in 1997, the Guggenheim Museum in
Bilboa, Spain, has been hailed as one of the most significant
architectural designs of the 20th century. With free flowing lines
and form standing in stark contrast to surrounding low-lying art
deco buildings, the museum has an exterior formed from a blend of
titanium, limestone and glass. Due to the exposed position of the
building, and the potential deterioration of the construction
materials and their bonding system, and to minimize the possibility
of "streaking" and disruption of the flow pattern of the museum's
skin, Dow Corning consultants recommended natural stone and facade
silicone sealants to help it withstand structural movement, offer
protective qualities, and provide a long term weather-sealing
solution. * The Brussels Berlaymont building - One of the major
symbols of the European Union, the Brussels Berlaymont building
reopened after almost 10 years of renovation. The building retains
the original structure but is enhanced by a blanket of high-tech
facade made of 21,000 glass louvers, which provide energy
conservation as well as weather protection. Structurally adhered
with Dow Corning sealant, the louvers are controlled by a computer
connected to weather system sensors and move according to sun
radiation, temperature, wind and shadow. Dow Corning
(http://www.dowcorning.com/ ) provides performance-enhancing
solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers
worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and
innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow
Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) and
Corning, Incorporated (NYSE:GLW). More than half of Dow Corning's
annual sales are outside the United States.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050518/DEW038
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Dow Corning Corporation
CONTACT: Jarrod Erpelding (U.S.) of Dow Corning Corporation,
+1-989-496-1582 Web site: http://www.dowcorning.com/
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